THEY FINALLY DID IT! OUR BARRACUDAS WOMEN WIN THE 2009 NATIONAL LEAGUE TITLE
(May 16, 09) After making the Finals Series every season since the start of women competiting in the NWPL in 2003, the Barracudas can finally add a Gold medal and the coveted NWPL Trophy to their mantle, becoming only the third club to take the crown. The girls today managed the elusive Grand Final win at the Sydney Aquatic Centre defeating the minor premiers, odds on favourites, and four-time finalists, the Balmain Tigers in what is described as a rugged 11-9 victory. For players Jane Moran, Kate Gynther and Barracudas captain Melissa Rippon, the win is even sweeter as these three players have been with the Barracudas National League team since Day 1 in the competition, coming so close each year (2 bronze medals and a silver). Adding to the day was Jane Moran being named Finals Series MVP after putting in an outstanding performance over the course of the 5 day Finals Series. The win marks the first time a Queensland Women's team brings home a National League title and caps off what has been an impressive season for the whole team. The team was full of emotion after the victory which culminates some 7+ months of hard work, training, preparation and regular season games.
The Barracudas 2009 Championship Team (Pictured) Melissa Rippon (captain), Fabio Pavanello (Coach) Emma Keogh, Gabby Wikman, Hannah Robinson, Gao Ao, Patsy Redmond, Kate Gynther, Amanda Russell, Nanda Stoltz, Sun Yujun, Kelsey Wakefield, Emma Jackson, Jamie Lee Lewis, Jane Moran (Not pictured) Steph Thomas, Maddy Coburn, Kate McAfee, Jasmine Collins, Olivia King, Bronte Colenso, Caroline Zanussi, Margot James, Chloe Wuth, Natalie Pavanello (manager).
BARRACUDAS WOMEN CROWNED 2009 NWPL CHAMPIONS!!!
PHOTOS AND MATCH REPORT
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| Coach Fabio Pavanello guides the team at half time break in front of almost 500 spectators | Jane Moran nets her 3rd goal of the Grand Final and pulls the team ahead in the final stretch | |
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| Bench goes wild as the final hooter sounds and the National Title is ours! | Jamie Lee Lewis and teammate Hannah Robinson celebrate | |
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| Barracudas Captain Melissa Rippon and Head Coach Fabio Pavanello with the hardware! | Jane Moran caps an incredible Final Series receiving top honours as Finals Series MVP | |
| All photos courtesy Pearse Photography |
Grand Final: Brisbane Barracudas 11 defeat Balmain Tigers 9
Our Brisbane Barracudas women devasted Balmain and sent them home with their fourth silver medal in the compeition's history today. Superb defence and an unrelenting attack was key and caused Balmain all kinds of headaches. As Balmain coach Phillip Bower said: “If you only score one from 15 on extra, you don’t deserve to win the grand final.” The foul count was 16-9 in favour of Balmain but scoring only one goal from 15 and missing a penalty conversion proved damaging. Barracudas goalkeeper Emma Jackson managed to save a Taryn Woods penalty that proved pivotal and the Barracudas desperate defence throughout the game kept Balmain from making in roads. Brisbane led 4-3 at the quarter but Balmain went 6-5 ahead by halftime. This was largely due to Balmain's Australian 18 and under co-captain Bre Appel. She stunned the Barracudas with five goals at the long break. All her first-half shots came from seven metres and beyond and in the second half she was restricted by Brisbane to just one goal. Mel Rippon, Nanda Stoltz and Jane Moran then took Brisane to 9-6 before Liz Simms narrowed to 9-7 a minute from the end of the third period. Bronwyn Smith with a backhand goal and Appel with her sixth levelled the game at 6:32. Chinese international Gao Ao scored on extra at 3:41 and the final nail in the coffin came when Sun Yujun found a breaking Kate Gynther at 1:00 for 11-9. Both teams took a timeout but Brisbane had the trophy.
Brisbane coach Fabio Pavanello said: “A lot of hard work and effort has gone into this season. They’re a great bunch of girls, totally committed to the same goal. We were quietly confident of winning. It felt like we were coming from behind but we weren’t and we broke them. We’ve got to give credit to Balmain. They’ve been the No 1 team all season and in many finals. We’ve wanted the title for a long time. It was a great finish.”
Brisbane’s Kate Gynther said: “We started (the series) slow earlier in the week but to finish like this is unbelievable.”
Balmain coach Bower said: “We had a fantastic season with some new girls and I think they have learned a lot. The future at Balmain is good and tonight we celebrate and tomorrow we start rebuilding. The hardest thing is to make a grand final and we did that. We were the best two teams in the competition and it is not an embarrassment to lose to Brisbane.”
In other matches, the Fremantle Marlins took home Bronze defeating the Victorian Tigers and the Fremantle Mariners took out the men's title downing Drummoyne.
Barracudas Goalscorers: J Moran 3, G Ao 3, K Gynther 2, S Yujun 1, N Stoltz 1, M Rippon 1